Rule for grandparents: Never miss grandkids’ birthday parties

Published 4:49 am, Sunday, February 22, 2015

Grandparents have a huge role to play in the life of their grandkids. We should take that job seriously.

We have to buy them ice cream even if it interferes with dinner plans. We have to go to their ball games even if they are played at 8 a.m. on a Saturday. And we have to buy things from grandkids when they are involved in fundraisers.

I also learned last week that you have to go to their birthday parties. My youngest grandson, Cooper, was celebrating his fifth birthday and I found out in no uncertain terms that birthday parties rank right up there with getting ice cream or pizza -- or eating at McDonald’s.

Birthdays are serious stuff and shouldn’t be trifled with in any form or fashion. You see, Cooper informed us that his party was on Sunday, but his birthday was really on Wednesday.

“We are only celebrating my birthday on Sunday. I won’t be 5 until Wednesday,” he proclaimed.

Cooper didn’t want to get us confused -- or he was trying to convince himself of the propriety of such arrangements. It’s hard to tell which, unless you have the ability to read the mind of a 5-year-old.

He took this news as hard fact. I know because he corrected me at least a dozen times for mentioning his birthday was on Sunday.

“No, Granddaddy, we’re just celebrating on Sunday. My birthday is on Wednesday.”

“But aren’t we going to eat cake and have ice cream just like you are already 5?” I asked.

“Yes, but that is celebrating. That’s when everyone can come. You don’t want to have a party when nobody can come.”

I think that reasoning was very well thought out. I suspected he was smart enough to figure out how to get some more mileage on his birthday. Sure enough, his mom tells me that he coaxed a breakfast at McDonald’s out of her on Wednesday. You have to admire a kid who is always thinking fast on his feet.

I’m glad his party is over, however. I’m now hoping the wife and I are out of Cooper’s doghouse.

We broke the cardinal rule last year because we missed his party altogether. He never forgot it.

In December, some 10 months after he turned 4, he asked, “Granddaddy, now tell me again why you didn’t come to my birthday party last year.”

Try looking your grandson straight in the eye after a question like that.

The wife and I thought we had properly explained our absence 11 months ago. We were taking a retirement trip to New Zealand and Australia. We thought it was a firm excuse with out any loopholes.

A trip to the land of Aussies is no match for the birthday party. It was a grievous mistake on our part and we are still hoping that attending this year’s party is the soothing ointment.

It’s not a good feeling to be in the doghouse of your youngest grandchild. You’ll do just about anything to get out of it.

I just want Cooper to know that I’m still celebrating his birthday even though Wednesday has come and gone.

Thought for the Week: “There is still no cure for the common birthday.” -- John Glenn, former astronaut and congressman